What should my plan be?

[FancyZach]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Okay so I just got my MCAT score back. 11V 7P 10B for a sad 28 overall. Oh physics I hate you so. With a uGPA of 3.26, sGPA 3.0, and masters GPA (bio science, non thesis) of 3.79, I'm taking this to mean I should wait this cycle out and retake the MCAT. I will finish my masters next semester and will continue working at my current job the next year if I can't find a better one.

So my question is do you think retaking in the fall while I am taking a full class load and working 2 jobs is best? Or take it next spring while working on my final project/thesis-lite and working 1 full time job? All I want is a 30-31. Take it while the info is relatively fresh still? I think my biggest problem while studying was being over scheduled, but I studied flipping PS 2x as much as the other 2 sections combined so I'm not sure that lots of time is the answer.

Also my undergrad GPA looks like that mostly due to a slew of Cs I got in prereqs during sophomore year. After taking a TON of upper level and graduate level immunology/ pathogenesis/ biochem classes is it worth retaking O-chem just for the grade replacement? Are all those upper level A/A-B+ bio credits enough to make up for my 19 year old stupidity, or is it worth it for the DO grade replacement? I just feel like retaking a prereq after all those other more advanced classes like 5 years later looks weird. I don't know.

Oh an as far as ECs go I did a year of Americorps, currently working as an ED scribe, volunteered teaching camps at a science museum all through high school and college, currently volunteer at a farmers market, worked 30-40 hours a week all 4 years of undergrad, 1.5 years of research in a bacterial genetics lab. I feel I'm pretty okay there.

 

[Chip N Sawbones]

I think you'd have a pretty good shot at DO if you applied this year. A 28 MCAT is about average, and you've got the masters and some very good ECs. If you apply somewhat broadly I'll bet you'd get in somewhere. Unless you're absolutely set on going into a highly competitive specialty it's better than waiting a year.

 

[FancyZach]

Really? I thought with average MCAT and below average GPA it wasn't looking too good. Ok sooooo what if I said one of those Cs in a prereq is actually a C-. A lot of the DO schools I've looked at don't accept lower than a C. Would it be worth it to just apply and indicate I was going to be retaking that class prior to matriculation?

Basically I can't tell if I'm being realistic or just doubting myself right now.

 

[Goro]

Quit fussing, you're fine for ANY DO program, including mine. If you're focused solely on MD programs, then yes, you'll need to re-take because you have two strikes. Score is well below avg, and is imbalanced. You'll need a minimum of 10/10/10 = 30.

Okay so I just got my MCAT score back. 11V 7P 10B for a sad 28 overall. Oh physics I hate you so. With a uGPA of 3.26, sGPA 3.0, and masters GPA (bio science, non thesis) of 3.79, I'm taking this to mean I should wait this cycle out and retake the MCAT. I will finish my masters next semester and will continue working at my current job the next year if I can't find a better one.

So my question is do you think retaking in the fall while I am taking a full class load and working 2 jobs is best? Or take it next spring while working on my final project/thesis-lite and working 1 full time job? All I want is a 30-31. Take it while the info is relatively fresh still? I think my biggest problem while studying was being over scheduled, but I studied flipping PS 2x as much as the other 2 sections combined so I'm not sure that lots of time is the answer.

Also my undergrad GPA looks like that mostly due to a slew of Cs I got in prereqs during sophomore year. After taking a TON of upper level and graduate level immunology/ pathogenesis/ biochem classes is it worth retaking O-chem just for the grade replacement? Are all those upper level A/A-B+ bio credits enough to make up for my 19 year old stupidity, or is it worth it for the DO grade replacement? I just feel like retaking a prereq after all those other more advanced classes like 5 years later looks weird. I don't know.

Oh an as far as ECs go I did a year of Americorps, currently working as an ED scribe, volunteered teaching camps at a science museum all through high school and college, currently volunteer at a farmers market, worked 30-40 hours a week all 4 years of undergrad, 1.5 years of research in a bacterial genetics lab. I feel I'm pretty okay there.

 

[deh2ase]

I have a friend who has similar stats to you with multiple DO acceptances this year.

 

[FancyZach]

Ahhhh okay okay. I thought my C- shut me out of most DO schools without a retake. Okay guess I can still apply this cycle. Which is awesome but still terrifying. I am probably just getting myself all worked up over nothing then! Whew.

 

[Chip N Sawbones]

Ahhhh okay okay. I thought my C- shut me out of most DO schools without a retake. Okay guess I can still apply this cycle. Which is awesome but still terrifying. I am probably just getting myself all worked up over nothing then! Whew.

Get started on that application now, and I mean right now, as in yesterday would be better. You're running late already. Still, apply to a nice range of DO schools, including some newer ones with lower stats and you will probably get in somewhere.